I'm deputy editor of the Forbes wealth team responsible for our signature Forbes 400 and World Billionaires Lists. I've spent years covering some rich personalities. Some highlights include a cover story on fallen billionaire Eike Batista, interviewing Israeli President Shimon Peres about a Hollywood producer, and arguing with Donald Trump about his brand value. I have degrees from Tufts University and from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. I was born in Brazil, bred in Texas and somehow made my way to Manhattan.
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Donald Trump For President 2012? A Conversation With The Donald.

Rumors have been circling the Web buzzing that real estate billionaire Donald Trump will run for U.S. President on the Republican ticket in 2012. I spoke with The Apprentice star this morning to find out what he’d do as the United States’ 45th President.

Following is an excerpt from my conversation with Donald Trump.

Will you confirm whether you’re definitely running for President in 2012?

The polls are very strong. I am seriously thinking about it. I hate what’s happened to the country. I hate what’s going on in respect to how other parts of the world are taking advantage of this country, whether it’s OPEC or China or many others, and I am seriously thinking about it.

When will you announce your decision?

The Celebrity Apprentice goes on March 6. You can’t make a decision until that’s off, otherwise other people will have to be given two hours of prime time television. Season 11 ends in June. Right around that time would be the time when I’d be thinking about making an announcement and making a decision. And maybe even using the season finale as a forum.

Say you decide to run, and you win. What’s the first thing you’ll do as President?

The first thing I’d do is have a nice heart-to-heart talk with OPEC because the economy can never be strong if oil prices continue to go up. All these characters that are talking about projecting for the economy are wasting their time because every time the economy gets good they raise the oil prices. And mark my words: the economy can never be strong if OPEC is allowed to drain the blood out of us. So the first thing I’d do is have a heart-to-heart talk with OPEC — and it would not be a nice conversation.

The second thing I’d do is have a nice heart-to-heart talk with China. I would tax Chinese products in a nanosecond. And they will come to the table in less than a nanosecond.

You always tell me how well The Apprentice is doing. How would you feel about giving it up and stepping back from show business?

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My thoughts: 1) Money does equal Power. 2) OPEC and China is bleeding our Nation. 3) Our Nation is in financial difficulty and we have lost power and respect. 4) What Mr Trump is saying does make a lot of sense. 5) It’s not easy becoming as successful as Mr Trump and I respect him for that and for his first plans if he gets elected.

[...] real estate mogul Donald Trump has been making quite the stir in recent weeks with veiled hints at a 2012 presidential run and repeated jabs at President Obama on the “birther” issue. Amid all the media [...]

Would you be happy with this? We see The Donald in full force here in Scotland as local councils bow and scrape fro the US dollar!!

Donald Trump tries to evict homeowners from their property in Scotland!

If you believe that Donald Trump had no intentions of evicting 86 year old Molly Forbes or the other residents of Menie Estate in the North East of Scotland for his dream golf course – Read this minute from Aberdeenshire County Council on 4th March 2009:

http://aberdeenvoice.com/2011/02/trump-never-applied-for-cpos-really/

He is not to be trusted! If you vote for him for US president then you deserve what you get. As for us in Scotland – You can keep him!!

Check out this link too – Keep him in the USA and good riddance!! http://aberdeenvoice.com/2011/02/trump-never-applied-for-cpos-really/ – Now tell me what you think??

[...] real estate mogul Donald Trump has been making quite the stir in recent weeks with veiled hints at a 2012 presidential run and repeated jabs at President Obama on the “birther” issue. Amid all the media appearances, [...]

Well I certainly would vote for Trump (or bill Gates) but that’s not the point. My point is I think Trump would do great as our president. He has the money knowledge to know how to manage it. As he has said-and I do keep tabs on him and a few other rich people for the fun of it-he has had experience with both republicans and democrats. He has the correct ideas also. So what more can we ask of a president as long as he keeps his promises I believe he would be a great leader.